Ball Cage For A Constant Velocity Universal Joint And Process Of Producing A Ball Cage

Abstract

A ball cage ( 2 ) for a constant velocity universal joint. The ball cage ( 2 ) is an annular member with a longitudinal axis (A). In the annular member there are provided a plurality of windows ( 3 ) which are distributed around the circumference and which, in the circumferential direction, are separated from one another by longitudinal webs ( 4 ) and in the axial direction by annular webs ( 5, 6 ). In circumferential regions of the ball cage ( 2 ) in which there are arranged the windows ( 3 ), the annular webs ( 5, 6 ) have a greater radial wall thickness than in the circumferential regions of the ball cage ( 2 ) in which there are arranged longitudinal webs ( 4 ). A process of producing a ball cage as well as a constant velocity universal joint with a ball cage are also disclosed.

1 . A ball cage for a constant velocity universal joint comprising:
 an annular member with a longitudinal axis (A), the annular member having a plurality of windows distributed around its circumference and which, in the circumferential direction, are separated from one another by longitudinal webs and which, in the axial direction, are delimited by annular webs,   wherein, in circumferential regions of the annular member in which the windows are arranged, the annular webs each comprise a greater radial wall thickness than in the circumferential regions of the annular member in which the longitudinal webs are arranged.   
     
     
         2 . A ball cage according to  claim 1 , wherein the circumferential regions with a greater radial wall thickness are formed by radially inwardly directed thickened portions. 
     
     
         3 . A ball cage according to  claim 1 , wherein that the radial thickened portions each comprise a cylindrical surface portion and circumferentially adjoining transition portions. 
     
     
         4 . A ball cage according to  claim 2 , wherein, in the circumferential direction, the radial thickened portions are shorter than the windows. 
     
     
         5 . A ball cage according to  claim 1 , wherein, in a longitudinal sectional view, the annular member comprises an axially undercut-free inner annular face. 
     
     
         6 . A ball cage according to  claim 1 , wherein, in a longitudinal sectional view, the annular member comprises a roof-shaped outer annular face. 
     
     
         7 . A ball cage according to  claim 1 , wherein the annular member is produced from a profiled tube. 
     
     
         8 . A process of producing a ball cage for a constant velocity universal comprising:
 providing a profiled tube whose cross-section is constant along its length, which, between an outer tube face and an inner tube face, comprises a plurality of longitudinally extending circumferential regions with a greater wall thickness, and a plurality of longitudinally extending circumferential regions with a smaller wall thickness which alternate around the circumference with those with a greater wall thickness;   cutting the profiled tube to length to form an annular part; and   working circumferentially distributed windows into the annular part in the circumferential regions with the greater wall thickness.   
     
     
         9 . A process according to  claim 8 , wherein the outer tube face of the profiled tube is formed so as to be cylindrical. 
     
     
         10 . A process according to  claim 8 , wherein, in a cross-sectional view, the inner tube face of the profiled tube is designed so as to be undulating. 
     
     
         11 . A process according to  claim 8 , wherein the circumferential regions with the greater wall thickness are formed by radially inwardly directed, longitudinally extending thickened portions. 
     
     
         12 . A process according to  claim 11 , wherein the thickened portions each comprise a cylindrical surface portion and circumferentially laterally adjoining transition portions. 
     
     
         13 . A process according to  claim 8 , wherein the inner face of the annular part remains unmachined. 
     
     
         14 . A process according to  claim 8 , further process comprising:
 turning the outer face of the annular part to produce a roof-shaped outer annular face if viewed in a longitudinal section.   
     
     
         15 . A process according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 forming the outer face of the annular part to produce a roof-shaped outer annular face if viewed in a longitudinal section.   
     
     
         16 . A process according to  claim 8 , wherein the windows are worked into the annular part by punching. 
     
     
         17 . A process according to  claim 8 , wherein the windows are machined into the annular part in a chip-forming way. 
     
     
         18 . A plunging constant velocity universal joint comprising:
 an outer joint part with a group of outer ball tracks which intersect the longitudinal axis (A);   an inner joint part with a group of inner ball tracks which intersect the longitudinal axis (A), wherein an outer ball track intersecting the longitudinal axis (A) and an inner ball track intersecting the longitudinal axis (A) intersect one another and jointly form a pair;   torque-transmitting balls which are received and guided in the pairs of outer and inner ball tracks intersecting one another; and   a ball cage with circumferentially distributed windows in which the torque transmitting balls are held in a common plane (M), wherein the ball cage is designed in accordance with  claim 1 .   
     
     
         19 . A constant velocity universal joint according to  claim 18 , wherein the ball tracks of the group of outer ball tracks intersecting the longitudinal axis (A) are inclined in the same direction relative to one another and form a first angle (α1), and the ball tracks of the group of inner ball tracks intersecting the longitudinal axis (A) are inclined in the same direction relative to one another and form a second angle (β1);
 wherein the first angles (α1) and the second angles (β1) are of identical size and extend in opposite directions.   
     
     
         20 . A constant velocity universal joint according to  claim 18 , wherein the group of outer ball tracks intersecting the longitudinal axis (A) comprise outer first ball tracks which intersect the longitudinal axis (A) at first angles (α1) and outer second ball tracks which intersect the longitudinal axis (A) at second angles (α2); and
 that the group of inner ball tracks intersecting the longitudinal axis (A) comprise inner first ball tracks which intersect the longitudinal axis (A) at first angles (β1), and inner second ball tracks which intersect the longitudinal axis (A) at second angles (β2);   wherein the first angles (α1) of the outer first ball tracks and the first angles (β1) of the inner first ball tracks are identical in size and extend in opposite directions; and   wherein the second angles (α2) of the outer second ball tracks and the second angles (β2) of the inner second ball tracks are identical in size and extend in opposite directions.   
     
     
         21 . A constant velocity universal joint according to  claim 19 , wherein the outer joint part comprises a further group of ball tracks which extend parallel to the longitudinal axis (A), and
 the inner joint part comprises a further group of ball tracks which extend parallel to the longitudinal axis (A), wherein an outer further ball track and an inner further ball track are positioned opposite one another and jointly form a pair.   
     
     
         22 . A constant velocity universal joint according to  claim 20 , wherein the outer joint part comprises a further group of ball tracks which extend parallel to the longitudinal axis (A), and
 the inner joint part comprises a further group of ball tracks which extend parallel to the longitudinal axis (A), wherein an outer further ball track and an inner further ball track are positioned opposite one another and jointly form a pair.